stages of prison history

Penitentiary Era

1790-1825. The goal is rehabilitation and deterrence. The characteristics are separate and silent; congregate and silent

Mass Prison Era

1825-1876. The goal is incapacitation and deterrence. Characteristics are congregate labor and living spaces without silence; contract prison labor

Reformatory Era

1876-1890. The goal is rehabilitation. Characteristics are indeterminate sentencing

Industrial Era

1890-1935. The goal is incapacitation. Characteristics are public accounts industries, contract labor, state-use labor, convict lease, and public works labor

Punitive Era

1935-1945. The goal is retribution. Characteristics are strict punishment and custody

Treatment Era

1945-1967. The goal is rehabilitation. Characteristics are medical model and emerging prisoner unrest

Community-Based Era

1967-1980. The goal is reintegration. Characteristics of intermediate sanction: halfway houses, work release centers, group homes, fines, restitution, and community service

Warehousing Era

1980-1995. The goal is incapacitation. Characteristics are sentencing guidelines, end of discretionary parole release, serious crowding, and more prison riots

Just Deserts Era

1985-2010. The goal is retribution. Characteristics are just deserts, determinate sentencing, truth in sentencing, three-strike laws, and mass incarceration

Criminal Justice Reform

2010-present. The goal is to reduce mass incarceration. Characteristics are data-driven policy and science-based